Anchor



ept. 22, 1959 J. K. NoRTHRoP ANCHOR Filed June 25, 1956 JOHN K.NORTHROP,

IN VEN TOR.

BY WHW-MM Patented Sept. 22, 1959 lice ANCHOR Iolin K. Northrop, SantaBarbara, Calif., assgnor to The Garrett Corporation, Los Angeles,Calif., a corporation yof California Application June 25, 1956, serialN0. 593,740

s Claims. (c1. 114-207) This invention relates generally to anchors; itis more particularly directed to anchors having relatively movable partswhich may be disposed in certain positions to place the device incondition for stowing or other positions to condition the device foractive use.

A11 object of this invention is to provide an anchor composed primarilyof stamped or otherwise suitably formed pieces assembled by welding orother well-known method to produce a simple, compact unit which willrender efcient service and be convenient to store when not in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide an anchor having a bodywith a shank and a crossbar at one end thereof to support angularlydirected, ground penetrating llukes, the body having means for receivinga stock member for adjustment between two positions in one of which thestock member is at right angles to the body and crossbar and in theother position the stock member is parallel to the body shank, suitableholding means being provided to retain the stock member in each ot suchpositions.

Another object of the invention is to provide an anchor ofthe typementioned in the preceding paragraph and in which the body of the anchorhas a rst means receiving the stock member for sliding movement and asecond means operative when the stock member has reached a predeterminedposition of movement to provide an axis about which the stock member maybe swung to cause it to assume a position parallel to the shank of theanchor body, the holding means mentioned in the preceding paragraphretaining the stock member in the latter position and in a certainposition assumed during sliding movement in the rst means.

A further object of the invention is to provide an anchor having a bodywith `a sheet metal shank and crossbar, the body having guide meansshaped to slidably receive a channel-shaped stock member, the body alsohaving a projection extending into the guide means and engaging a bar onthe stock member during movement thereof in the guide means,the-engagement of the bar and projection interrupting the slidingmovement of the stock member and providing for swinging movement thereofto a position parallel with the shank, fastening means being provided on`the stock member and the body to retain these elements in bothoperative and stowing conditions.

A still further object is to so construct the anchor mentioned in thepreceding paragraph that the guide means forms the twofold purpose ofguiding the stock member in its sliding movement from an active positiontoward an inactive position and holding one end of the stock memberagainst lateral movement when the latter is in an inactive position,interengaging means being provided on the body and the intermediateportion of the stock member to retain the rest of the stock memberagainst movement when in the inactive position.

'Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription and the accompanying drawings in which one embodiment of theinvention has been illustrated in detail.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an anchor formed in accordance with thepresent invention, the parts being disposed in positions occupied whenthe anchor is in condition for stowing;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts in the positions occupiedwhen the anchor is in condition for operation;

Fig. 3 is a detailed sectional view taken on the plane indicated by theline 3-3 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the bottom of the ancorshown in Fig. 3.

A closer inspection of the drawing will disclose that the embodiment ofthe invention selected for illustration includes two major parts 10 and11, one part 10 being hereinafter termed the body of the anchor andincluding a shank 12 and a crossbar 13 secured to one end of the shankby welding or other suitable method of attachment indicated at 14. Theshank and crossbar are formed of sheet or plate material, the crossbarterminating at its ends in angularly directed, tapered extensions 15.These extensions have triangular plates 16 welded thereto, the angularextensions and plates forming ukes which are adapted to penetrate thesoil, sand, or other surface to be engaged thereby during the use of thedevice.

The shank 12 has a link 17 at the end opposite that carrying thecrossbar to receive a chain, cable, or other suitable means, forattaching the anchor to the boat or other vehicle.

Adjacent the point of attachment of the stock and shank to one another,the crossbar is provided with a guide element 18 which is also formed ofsheet or plate material having a curved central portion which terminatesin spaced legs 19 having slots formed therein to permit the legs tostraddle the crossbar. These legs are secured by welding to the sides ofthe crossbar to retain the guide member 18 in place thereon.

The guide member is provided for the reception of part 11, which ishereinafter termed the stock member of the anchor, this member beingprovided for the purpose of preventing the anchor from lying liat on theground when it is placed in use. The stock causes the anchor to turnuntil one or the other of the ukes engages the ground and penetrates thesame to hold the vessel.

The stock member 11 in the present form of the invention is also formedof sheet or plate material, being of strip form and bent transverselyinto a modified channelshaped cross section which correspondssubstantially to the shape of the guide 18. The latter receives thestock member for longitudinal sliding movement and serves, when thestock member is disposed therein, to retain this member in a position atright angles to the shank and the crossbar. When the anchor is incondition for use, the stock member is located with its central portioninA the guide member so that equal parts of the stock project fromeither side of the crossbar. It is retained in this: position by aliexible spring 20 formed of a length of wire:- doubled upon itself andclamped to the stock member with a retainer 21 and screws, or otherfastening elements, 22.

The intermediate portions of the wire projecting from the point ofattachment to the stock member, are bent as at 23 to providefinger-engaging portions through the use of which the spring may beflexed to release the stock member from its active position so that itmay be moved to another position which it occupies when the anchor is incondition to be stowed. The ends of the spring are bent outwardly toprovide hooks 24 for engagement with spaced ears 25 provided on theguide member 18, this member being recessed as at 26 to form the earsand to receive the hook members 24. When the stock member is beingplaced in operative condition, one end thereof is inserted in the guidemember. Then the stock member is moved longitudinally until the hooks 24engage the rounded portions of the ears 25. Continued movement of thestock member will ex the hooks luntilthey snap into place behind theears and retain the stock member in operative position. The arrangementof the hooks and ears in this position is shown in Fig. 2.

One of the features of the invention is the folding or adjsutment of theanchor for stowing purposes. To secure this feature, the stock memberhas a bar 27 secured thereto in such a manner as to extend between thesides of the channel at one end of the stock. The shank, or crossbar,adjacent its point of attachment to the shank is provided with one ormore small pieces 28 which project at one end into the guide member forengagement with the bar 27 when the stock is moved outwardly of theguide. This engagement of the bar with the projections 28, the latterbeing hereinafter termed hooks, provides an axis for swinging movementof the stock member to a position at one side of the shank 12. In thisposition, the stock is substantially parallel and co-extensive with theshank, and the anchor is reduced in effective size to facilitate stowingthereof.

To retain the anchor in its folded condition, the stock member has anopening 29 provided therein, this opening being disposed in registrationwith the space between the ends of the spring 2i). The opening isprovided to receive a stud 30 which projects from the side of the shank12. The stud has a groove 31 at a point adjacent the free end so that ahead 32 will be provided. When the stock is swung to the stowingposition, the head end of the stud will pass through the opening 29, andthe spring ends will ride over the head and be disposed in the groove 31to retain the stock in folded condition. It will be noted that the openside of the channel-shaped stock member faces the shank; and when it isdesired to place the anchor in condition for operation, the user mayinsert one or more fingers into the end of the stock and by a pullingforce, release the spring from the stud. The stock may then be swungabout the axis provided by the engagement of the bar 27 with the hooks28 until the end of the stock is aligned with the guide 18. The stockmay then be moved longitudinally into the guide until the spring hooksengage the ears 25. It should be noted that the distance from the bar 27to the hole or opening 29 corresponds substantially with the distancebetween the hooks 28 and the stud 30. This arrangement causes theopening 29 to register with the stud 30 near the termination of theswinging movement of the stock and insures convenience in the operationof folding the stock member.

It will be noted that the legs 19 of the guide 18 serve to locate theend of the stock member and prevent lateral movement thereof when thestock is disposed at the side of the shank and the stud 30 is positionedin the opening 29.

I claim:

1. An anchor comprising a body having a shank portion with a crossbar atone end; fiuke means at the ends of said crossbar; a stock member; guidemeans on said body receiving and holding said stock member in a firstposition at right angles to said shank and said crossbar, said guidemeans providing for sliding and swinging movement of said stock memberfrom said first position to a second position substantially parallelwith said shank por` tion; finger means on said guide means and springmeans on said stock member for locking said stock member in said firstposition; and means on said shank for engaging said spring means to locksaid stock member in said second position.

2. An anchor comprising a body having a shank portion with a erossbar atone end; fluke means at the ends of said brossbar; a stock member; guidemeans on said body, said stock member being slidable in said guide meansand held thereby in a first position at right angles to said shank andsaid crossbar; said stock member being held in said first position bylatch means carried by said stock member; means on said stock member andsaid body for interengagement to provide for swinging movement of saidstock member to a second position substantially parallel with said shankportion; and means on said body engaging said latch means on said stockmember for ylocking saidV stock member in said second position.

3. An anchor comprising a body having a shank portion with a crossbar atone end; fluke means at the ends of said crossbar; a stock member; guidemeans on said body, said stock member being longitudinally slidable insaid guide means and held thereby in a first position at right angles tosaid shank and said crossbar; means adjacent said guide means forengagement by a portion of said stock member to provide for swingingmovement of said stock member to a second position at the side of andsubstantially parallel to said shank; a pair of opposed fingers formedon said guide means; spring means secured to said stock member, saidspring means being disposed to engage said fingers to lock said stockmember in said first position; and pin means on said shank disposed toengage said spring means to lock said stock member in said secondposition.

4. An anchor comprising a body having a shank portion with a crossbar atone end; fluke means at the ends of said crossbar; a stock member havingholding means disposed on a face thereof; guide means on said body, saidguide means being shaped to slidably receive said stock member and toengage said holding means to retain said stock member in a firstposition at right angles to said shank and said crossbar; hook meansadjacent said guide means disposed to engage an end portion of saidstock member and providing for swinging movement thereof to a secondposition at the side of and substantially parallel to said shank; andcatch means on said body adapted to cooperate with said holding means onsaid stock member for locking said stock member in said second position.

5. An anchor comprising a body having a shank portion with a crossbar atone end; fiuke means on said crossbar; a stock member having achannel-shaped cross section; guide means adjacent the juncture of saidshank and crossbar for slidably receiving and holding said stock memberin a first position at right angles to said shank and said crossbar;means extending transversely of said channel-shaped stock memberadjacent one end thereof; means adjacent said guide means to engage thetransversely extending means on said stock member and provide f orswinging movement of the latter to a second position substantiallyparallel with said shank; a pair of opposed fingers formed on said guidemeans; pin means secured on said shank; and spring means on said stockmember disposed torespectively engage said fingers and said pin means tohold said stock member in each of said positions.

6. An anchor comprising a body having a shank portion with a crossbar atone end; fiuke means on said crossbar; a stock member having achannel-shaped cross section; guide means adjacent the juncture of saidshank and crossbar for slidably receiving and holding said stock memberin a first position at right angles to said shank and said crossbar;means extending transversely of said channel-shaped stock memberadjacent one end thereof; hook means adjacent the juncture of said shankand crossbar for engaging the transversely extending means on said stockmember and providing a pivotal axis for swinging movement of the stockmember to a second position substantially parallel with said shank; andinterengaging means having portions on said stock member, said shank andsaid guide means for holding said stock member in each of saidpositions.

7. An anchor comprising a body having a shank portion with a crossbar atone end; fluke means on said crossbar; a stock member having achannel-shaped crosssection; guide means on said body, said guide meansbeing shaped to conform to the cross-sectional configuration of saidstock member and receive the same for longitudinal sliding movement,said guide means serving to hold said stock member in one position atright angles to said shank and said crossbar; a bar extendingtransversely of said channel-shaped stock member at one end; a hookmember disposed on said body and projecting into said guide means toengage the bar on said stock member at one extremity of longitudinalmovement of said stock member and provide an axis for swinging movementthereof to a second position substantially parallel to said shank, saidguide means preventing lateral movement of one end of said stock memberin the second position; and means on said body engaging the intermediateportion of said stock member to hold the same in said second position.

8. An anchor comprising a body having a shank portion with a crossbar atone end; uke means on said crossbar; a stock member having achannel-shaped crosssection; guide means on said body, said guide meansbeing shaped to conform to the cross-sectional configuration of saidstock member and receive the same for longitudinal sliding movement,said guide means serving to hold said stock member in one position atright angles to said shank and said crossbar, the open side of saidchannel-shaped stock member facing said body in said one position; a barextending across the open side of said channel-shaped stock member; ahook member on said body and projecting into the open side of saidchannelshaped stock member, said hook member engaging the bar on saidstock member at one extremity of longitudinal movement of said stockmember and providing an axis for swinging movement thereof to a secondposition substantially parallel to said shank, the open side of said-stock member facing said body in said second position; andinterengaging means on said body and said stock member for holding thelatter in each of said positions.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,372,259 Wenlock et al Mar. 22, 1921 2,625,898 Southard Jan. 20, 19532,730,984 Parks Jan. 17, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 103,452 Australia Mar. 24,1938

